Cash-strapped schools could face even more challenges in the implementation of the school-feeding programme. This is after the government said it is not planning to increase funds or subsidies for the schools to support the programme this year.

Instead, the government has called on schools to emulate best practices demonstrated by some schools; engage parents on the ownership of the programme and start outsourcing local products to reduce money spent on exported food.

Isaac Munyakazi, State Minister in charge of primary and secondary education, said the major challenge facing the scheme is poor leadership and management of schools and lack of co-ordination between the institutions and local government entities.

“We have come to realise that it is mostly about school management and leadership,” he said.

Dr Munyakazi added that some schools have been implementing the school-feeding programme very well despite the financial struggles. Even doing better than more financially sound schools that are supported by NGOs.

The school-feeding programme was introduced in 2011 as a way of reducing the high rate of school dropouts. It sought to provide midday meals for primary school students with alternating classes and whose homes are far away.

Interventions

The government sought the support of institutions like the World Food Programme to provide interventions for schools that could not run the feeding programme on their own or those with parents so poor that they could not provide their children with food.

However, the scheme faced a number of challenges related to parents assuming the scheme was entirely the government’s responsibility and schools becoming reluctant to implement the programme.

Another challenge is delays in distributing subsidies in the form of capitation grants, which are first sent to the districts from the Ministry of Finance before they are disbursed to the schools.

Dr Munyakazi said the delay could last up to three months and this has resulted in students either skipping meals or dropping out of school.

“We have now generated an electronic system to provide districts with accurate data of how many schools and children should benefit from this programme. This enables them to liaise with the finance ministry so that the funds are disbursed within the shortest period,” said Dr Munyakazi.

Government expenditure in the education sector rose from Rwf222 billion in 2016/2017 to Rwf240.7 billion in the 2017/2018 fiscal year — an 8.5 per cent increase.

According to the 2017/2018 education sector joint review report, set priorities for the field include training of parents, teachers and school managers on better school management and leadership; and strengthening of the school feeding programme.